Bob Hoy (Guest Star of Little House) Exclusive Interview!
Hi Bob, Thanks for letting PrairieFans.com interview you about your
guest roles on Little House on the Prairie.
1. Little House on the Prairie has grown so much since it first
aired 30 years ago. The fan base is stronger than ever. What do you
think of its success after so many years? Would you have thought it
would still be as popular today as it was many years ago?
The show has always had a following, and based on its strong display
of family values and positive message, it’s not surprising that it’s
still popular today. There aren’t too many shows on TV today that
have the kind of message Little House did.
2. Bob, you appeared in three episodes of Little House playing
three different roles. Before landing your first appearance on the
show had you ever seen the series or read the books by Laura Ingalls
Wilder?
I never read the books. But as most actors do, I did watch the show
before I went to the set in order to get the feeling of the mood and
understand the roles of the permanent actors in the cast. Of course,
when you got to the set you got a better feeling. Any actor would
always do something like that.
3.
In the previous question I mentioned you were a guest in three
episodes, "No Beast So Fierce," "The Runaway Caboose" and "To See
the World," Each of these episodes you portrayed a different person.
Do you have a favorite episode? If so, why is it your favorite?
Runaway Caboose – because Don Collier was there and as you know, we
played brothers on The High Chaparral. Don and I think the same.
Things never go wrong when we’re together. I also enjoyed No Beast
So Fierce because I got to work with Jerry Wills, who was a stuntman
on The High Chaparral. Jerry’s father, Henry Wills, was the stunt
coordinator for that show. I had even worked with the dog in No
Beast So Fierce before.
4.
One of my favorite episodes as well is "The Runaway Caboose" in the
Little House series. This episode you play the fireman that does
battle with Michael. My question is what was it like to have battled
Michael Landon on the train? Was it all special effects? Also, what
were the kids like to work with and to be around? Melissa Gilbert
(Laura), Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary), and Brian Part (Carl).
Michael and I worked together before and it was easy. The fight we
did on the train was a dance. There was no stunt coordination
involved. Michael and I just worked it out ourselves. There were no
special effects.
I never got to work with the kids on Little House; we were not in
the same scenes. But I know that they all were pros. My son was once
in an episode and I was invited to stay on the set that day. All the
children involved in the show were complete professionals, and
talented.
5.
Speaking of Michael Landon. You mentioned in the last question that
Little House wasn't the first time you had worked with Michael. You
had also did several appearances on Bonanza. What was it like to
work on Bonanza with Michael?
Working with Michael was great. We first met because we had the same
acting coach (this was before Bonanza). He was very easy to work
with.
Bonanza was a great company because of one guy – Kent McCray. Kent
was the catalyst for whole thing.
6. If you could play one role in Little House who would you like
to play?
Michael Landon’s part. Or maybe Mr. Edwards.
7.
Victor French was loved by millions for his role as Mr. Edwards.
However, like you, he also guest starred on Bonanza. What was it
like to have scenes with him in the episode "To See the World?" Had
you both ever worked together before?
It was always great to work with Victor. We had worked together
before in an episode of The Streets of San Francisco. He played the
“main heavy” and I was the “henchman”.
8. In your career, you starred in several westerns and had to
wear costumes from that time period, even on your guest roles on
Little House. What was it like to wear clothes from that era? Was it
comfortable?
I never minded the clothes from that era. They were comfortable. And
they helped you get into the character. The right costume is very
important to the actor’s portrayal.
9.
Finally, How are things going for you these days? Are you currently
acting? Any projects in the works you wouldn't mind sharing with us?
I do have some projects in the works but I always think that it’s a
bad omen to share them before they happen. You can always find out
what I’m doing by visiting my website –
www.bobhoy.com.
10. Thanks again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to
answer our questions. Do you have anything you would like to say to
all the Little House fans around the world?
Little House on the Prairie portrayed courage and honesty, kindness
(which is not weakness), moral values, perseverance. There were
lessons to be learned. It was important to see that the “bad guys”
get their comeuppance in the end. People today can still learn a lot
from the show. It’s too bad that family shows and values are on the
back burner on television at the moment.
Webmasters Note: Interview was done on February 4, 2006. Special
Thanks to Bob Hoy and his Official Web site
www.bobhoy.com for use of the
pictures seen on this page.
